Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
働き掛ける (はたらきかける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb
work on ; appeal to or lobby ; exert influence on
Used with a target marked by に: to approach, urge, lobby, or pressure a person or organization to act. Also used for something such as medicine, policy, or a force acting on and influencing a target.
くすり
は
神しん
経けい
に
働はたら
きかけ
て
痛いた
み
を
和やわ
らげる
。
This medicine acts on the nerves and eases pain.
2
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
begin to work
Rare in modern Japanese as a literal compound meaning 'start working'; today 働き始める is the normal way to say this.
Written forms 働はたら き 掛か ける Usage 7%
Attested high-priority spelling, common in news and formal writing.
働はたら きかける Usage 86%
Common mixed spelling; かける in compound verbs is often written in kana in modern Japanese.
はたらきかける Usage 7%
Similar words 促うなが す Means to urge or prompt someone more directly; 働きかける often implies approaching a target, lobbying, or trying to influence them over time.
呼よ びかける Means to call out to or appeal publicly to people; 働きかける is broader and can be private, political, institutional, or causal influence.
圧あつ 力りょく をかける Specifically means to put pressure on someone; 働きかける can include pressure but is often more neutral.
Etymology A compound of 働き, the continuative stem of 働く, and 掛ける or かける. The main modern sense developed as directing action or influence toward a target; the rare 'begin to work' sense reflects かける as an auxiliary meaning 'to begin to do'.
